Event Recap: Strawberry Harvest Sessions
Chef Phoebe Lawless slices her strawberry semifreddo.
On a recent spring evening at the Container Barn, strawberries offered a unique lens for expert plant science and hands-on learning.
Dr. Mark Hoffmann, Associate Professor at NC State University and strawberry extension specialist for the entire state, opened our discussion with insights that reminded us why North Carolina ranks third in the nation for strawberry cultivation. He walked us through the lifecycle of the strawberry plant in production, which takes multiple years before the fruit finds its way to market. It starts with breeding; the popular varieties we know and love are all hybrids, and like many fruits, every strawberry seed is genetically different, so most strawberry plants are not started from seed, but from live tissue cultures.
One of the highlights came as participants shared their experiences with growing and eating strawberries in different places. Guests who were raised in Turkey and Germany spoke about the differences between the strawberries they enjoyed growing up versus the strawberries we have here. Mark was able to correlate this to the differences in plant propagation and climate from place to place. We also discussed the growing season this year at Burkett Farm, which was unique for a number of reasons but ultimately very successful.
We transitioned into the culinary portion with Durham pastry chef Phoebe Lawless, whose decades of championing local farmers through Scratch Bakery and Snack Service brought a different lens to our strawberry appreciation. Her hands-on demonstration reminded everyone that understanding our food means knowing both how it grows and how it nourishes. She showed us how to make strawberry semifreddo, an Italian dessert, similar to ice cream; the recipe showed techniques for highlighting strawberries' natural sweetness while preserving their seasonal essence.
By evening's end, participants left with recipe cards and growing tips. More importantly, they carried with them a deeper appreciation for the agricultural expertise that makes North Carolina a strawberry powerhouse.
This partnership with experts like Dr. Hoffmann and Phoebe builds on our commitment to connecting agricultural knowledge with community learning. Through our Harvest Sessions series, we're creating spaces where the science of growing meets the art of cooking, where academic research informs backyard gardens, and where North Carolina's agricultural heritage comes alive through conversation and connection.
Looking ahead: Our Harvest Sessions series continues throughout the growing season, with each event focusing on a different crop that thrives here in North Carolina. Keep an eye on our events page for upcoming sessions on summer vegetables and late-season harvests.
Special thanks to Dr. Mark Hoffmann and Phoebe Lawless for sharing their expertise! The $25 suggested donations from this event support our ongoing partnership with Wake County Boys and Girls Clubs.
Want to join us for future Harvest Sessions? Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming events in this series.
Learn more about growing strawberries: Visit the NC State Strawberry Team website for Dr. Hoffmann's research and growing guides for North Carolina strawberry cultivation.